Health News - Julian Heitz steers around blindness to help kids - Man who lost sight plans tandem cycle across country

Published: 20 May, 2010

JULIAN Heitz grew up in the knowledge that one day he would be blind.
Born with the eye condition retinitis pigmentosa – a genetic defect that steadily erodes vision leading to total blindness in later life – he was as a young boy rejected by a series of prep schools.
“They didn’t want the responsibility,” said Mr Heitz, who lives in Belsize Park.

“I have been aware that I have had retinitis pigmentosa since I was a small boy. I had many years to get used to it and prepare myself for the fact that one day I would be totally blind. I’ve always had to steer my life around these obstacles.”
Common symptoms include night blindness and tunnel vision. Some victims do not become blind until their 40s or 50s, while others lose their sight completely in childhood.

Mr Heitz became blind five years ago, but has found a way of living life to the full and raising money for blindness charities at the same time.
Riding tandem with school teacher Nichola Bennett, who will act as his eyes, Mr Heitz is about to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End for the National Blind Children’s Society.

He said: “It’s easy for blind people to feel trapped in their own skin and dependent when moving around.
“On a tandem I’m obviously not totally independent, but I have that ability to move and feel the wind around me. I can feel the texture of the road and feel the sounds as we move around.”

He added: “The money I have raised helps children take part in mainstream life and be part of mainstream education. I thought it was important for them to experience things like travel and movement and for them to be trained in exercise and have the equipment to do so.”
Mr Heitz and Ms Bennett train twice a week building up stamina for the gruelling 100-mile-a-day journey across the country which will take them nine days in total.
“It is great fun!” she said. “We really keep each other motivated.

“Learning to guide Julian through the streets of London and beyond has been a great challenge for me and one I have thoroughly enjoyed. I may have given him his sense of sight back through describing our surroundings, but he has made me more aware of my surroundings and appreciate smells and other senses I previously took for granted.”
• Donations can be made through their website www.1blind1blonde.com